Electronic control power steering considering tilt position of steering column

ABSTRACT

An electronic control power steering having a control unit for electronic control includes a tilt sensor that detects a tilt angle of a steering column, and a logic, provided in the control unit, that adjusts a power assist for steering according to signals received from the tilt sensor.

RELATED APPLICATIONS

The present disclosure relates to subject matter contained in priorityKorean Application No. 10-2003-0086226, filed on Dec. 1, 2003, which isherein expressly incorporated by reference in its entirety.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a power steering, and particularly toan electronic control power steering including a control unit forelectronic control, and more particularly to an electronic control powersteering having different power-assist for steering according to a tiltangle of a steering column.

2. Description of the Related Art

A power steering is broadly used as a system capable of providing powerassist for steering to the driver so as to be able to turn a vehiclewith a weak hand-operated force of a steering wheel. Here, there are twomodes according to a power source, one for a hydraulic pump mode and theother for an electric motor mode. In particular, the power steeringcontrolled electronically and automatically is called an electroniccontrol power steering.

As the conventional electronic control power steering, one example ofthe electric motor mode is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,810,111, and oneexample of the hydraulic pump mode is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No.6,499,557.

The control unit included in the conventional electronic control powersteering has logic capable of sensing a vehicular speed from a signal ofa vehicular speed sensor and then controlling power assist for steeringaccording to the sensed result. Thus, the control unit is generally aspeed sensitive typed one providing the power assist for steering at alow speed. The conventional power steering is simply capable ofcontrolling the power assist for steering according to the speed in thismanner, but not controlling the power assist for steering according to acondition of driver's body.

Meanwhile, the steering column is generally provided with a tilt systemso that the driver can adjust a location of the steering wheel accordingto a condition of his/her own body. One example of the tilt system isdisclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 6,637,284.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

To solve the above-indicated problems, it is, therefore, an objective ofthe present invention to provide an electronic control power steeringcapable of differentiating power assist for steering according to acondition of driver's body. For instance, in the case of the driverhaving a good body (e.g., a male adult, etc.), the power assist forsteering is provided to a weak extent, while in the case of the driverhaving a bad body (e.g., an aged person, etc.), the power assist forsteering is provided to a strong extent. In this manner, when the powerassist for steering is differentiated according to the condition of thedriver's body, it is possible to acquire a preferable effect in theaspect of energy efficiency.

To achieve the above objectives, an electronic control power steeringhas a control unit for electronic control and comprises a tilt sensordetecting a tilt angle of a steering column, and a logic provided in thecontrol unit and adjusting power assist for steering according to asignal received from the tilt sensor.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The above objects, features and advantages of the present invention willbecome more apparent from the following detailed description when takenin conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a preferred embodiment of theinvention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

A preferred embodiment of the present invention will now be describedwith reference to the accompanying drawings. In the followingdescription the same drawing reference numerals are used for the sameelements even in different drawings. The matters defined in thedescription such as a detailed construction and elements of a circuitare nothing but the ones provided to assist in a comprehensiveunderstanding of the invention. Thus, it is apparent that the presentinvention can be carried out without those defined matters. Also,well-known functions or constructions are not described in detail sincethey would obscure the invention in unnecessary detail.

An electronic control power steering having a control unit forelectronic control comprises a tilt sensor detecting a tilt angle of asteering column, and a logic provided in the control unit adjustingpower assist for steering according to a signal received from the tiltsensor.

Here, the tilt sensor is for detecting the tilt angle of the steeringcolumn, and has no limitation as long as the tilt angle of the steeringcolumn may be detected to output an electrical signal. For example, thetilt sensor may be one disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 6,637,284.

The steering column is tilted upward if a driver has a good body, whilethe steering column is tilted downward if the driver is a bad body.Therefore, it is possible to have an indirect acknowledge of thecondition of the driver's body from the tilt angle of the steeringcolumn.

A signal outputted from the tilt sensor is inputted into the controlunit. The logic is provided to control the power assist for steeringaccording to the signal. Thus, the logic controls to adjust the powerassist for steering according to the signal of the tilt sensor, that is,a tilted extent of the steering column.

Therefore, when the steering column is tilted upward, the power assistfor steering is weakly provided to the tilted extent. By contrast, whenthe steering column is tilted downward, the power assist for steering isstrongly provided to the tilted extent. Thereby, the power steeringsystem is controlled. Here, the degree adjusting the power assist forsteering is determined according to how many tilt positions the tiltsystem of the steering column can provide.

FIG. 1 shows one embodiment of the invention. The embodiment shown inFIG. 1 provides a power assist for steering in three steps. To be morespecific, the embodiment of FIG. 1 is designed so that a low powerassist for steering is provided when a steering column is tilted upward,that a middle power assist for steering is provided when a steeringcolumn is located at a middle position, and that a high power assist forsteering is provided when a steering column is tilted downward.

Meanwhile, controlling of the power assist for steering by a controllogic of the control unit may be applied only when a speed of a vehicleis below a predetermined speed. Thus, when the vehicle travels at a highspeed, the power assist for steering is equally controlled regardless ofthe a tilt angle of the steering column. This is because it is moreimportant to secure traveling stability at the high speed.

According to the invention, the electronic control power steering iscapable of differentiating the power assist for steering according to acondition of driver's body. This provides not only an effect of makingusage convenient, but also an effect of using energy effectively.

While the invention has been shown and described with reference tocertain preferred embodiments thereof, it will be understood by thoseskilled in the art that various changes in form and details may be madetherein without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention asdefined by the appended claims.

1. An electronic control power steering having a control unit forelectronic control, comprising: a tilt sensor that detects a tilt angleof a steering column; and a controller comprising a power adjuster whichis configured to adjust a power assist supplied to the steering columnbased upon a tilt angle of the steering column detected by the tiltsensor, wherein the tilt angle of the steering column corresponds to asignal outputted by the tilt sensor and received by the controller. 2.The electronic control power steering as claimed in claim 1, wherein thecontroller is configured to adjust the power assist supplied to thesteering column when a vehicle is below a predetermined speed.
 3. Theelectronic control power steering as claimed in claim 1, wherein whenthe steering column is tilted upward the power assist supplied to thesteering column is decreased.
 4. The electronic control power steeringas claimed in claim 1, wherein when the steering column is tilteddownward a power assist supplied to the steering column is increased. 5.The electronic control power steering as claimed in claim 1, whereinwhen the steering column is tilted upward the power assist supplied tothe steering column is decreased and when the steering column is tilteddownward a power assist supplied to the steering column is increased.